Summer Reads & Rosé Pairings!

It’s still rosé season! August is full of sunny days that should be spent outside sipping some rosé and reading! One of my favorite things about living in Manhattan, especially Stuyvesant Town is the endless private outdoor space. Here I can grab some of my favorite reads and park myself in the grass with a bottle of wine and a great book.

When I was younger I used to hate “summer reading” because it was required by the school, and that was not fun. This list, however, is way more fun because it involves delectable recipes, cheese, juicy fictional novels, plating inspiration, and some summer-inspired fun!

Read:

Food to Love Magazine: Farmers Market– 110 Farmers Market Farm to Table Recipes You’ll Love! This magazine will have you hooked the second you flip open the cover. I was entranced with the easy and delicious recipes that are so inspiring and will help you make the best meal. In Manhattan, we are lucky to have access to farmers markets, and this magazine is a staple when it comes to cooking fresh and delicious food. Some of my top favorite recipes are, Honey Roasted Fennel, Stilton, Honey and Walnut Tart, the Mexican Corn and Avocado Bruschetta, and the Pistachio, Walnut and Chocolate Baklava!$14.00

Wine Pairing:

La Vieille Ferme Réserve Sparkling Rosé. This beautiful pink bubbly is made with Grenache Noir, Cinsault, and Pinot noir grapes and is extremely elegant. It has a delicate peach center with attractive raspberry hints and fine bubbles. You will love the red fruit aromas giving way to a perfect balance between freshness, acidity, and roundness. $16.99

Read:

Unf*ck Yourself– This book is one of a kind, in your face and upfront. This book will help you get rid of your obstacles in your mind and become the person you were meant to be! This book is inspiring and doesn’t fuck around. It’s a bit of tough love combined with helpful tactics to ease you into success, release your fears, and become the best version of yourself you can be. $12.95

Wine Pairing:

Les Dauphins Côtes du Rhône Reserve Rosé– This wine pairs with Unf*ck yourself because in the Rhone Valley, they’re no joke when it comes to producing great wines. This rosé is exploding with fresh, summer berries that appear beautifully on the nose. This wine features an elegant and mixed palate supported by a lingering sensation of minerality. This is the perfect rosé for an aperitif, to pair with lighter fare and this great read. $10.99

Read:

Food to Love Gluten Free Cooking-I became obsessed with the recipes from the Food to Love magazines, which are as large as a recipe book! These are filled with tons of amazing recipes, and the gluten-free issue is one you won’t be able to put down. The Italian inspired recipes in this issue were perfect to enjoy with a delicious Italian wine. Gluten-Free or not, these recipes are ALL worth a try!$14.00

Wine Pairing:

Villa Gemma Masciarelli Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo DOC-(picture above) Made with 100% Montepulciano d’Abruzzo grapes, this complex rosé wine is a deep cherry pink, offering an elegant floral bouquet with traces of thyme, pomegranate, and walnuts. This is serious rosé with depth and structure, a perfect one to pair with the Gluten-Free Issue’s Mozzarella and Vegetable Pizza, Onion and Olive Bread, and Gluten-Free Fettuccini! $14.99

Read:

Composing The Cheeseplate: Recipes, Pairings, and Platings for the Inventive Cheese Course-This book is the perfect pairing while sipping some bubbly. I was flipping through this recently, and reading about all the different varieties of cheese and cheese accompaniments when it dawned on me that I needed some bubbles. This had to be rosé of course, because that’s how I usually spend my summer evenings when reading and contemplating dinner. This book will wow you with flavor combinations, and whether you’re adventurous or not, there’s a pairing in here for you! The recipes vary from easy to advanced, and all feature ingredients that are accessible. It’s a great read! $14.95

Wine Pairing:

La Caravelle Rosé Brut Champagne- Owners Rita and André Jammet, select from hand chosen grapes and work with the winemaker and producer to obtain the style and blend that will correspond to the image of this beautiful wine. It is simply stunning. It’s perfect to pair with a book like composing a cheese plate because most likely you would pair this fantastic sparkling rosé with some amazing French cheese. This wine is sassy and elegant with beautiful notes of pomegranate, fennel, cherry, and almonds. Made from 40% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir and 30% Pinot Meunier, this is a Champagne you will not want to stop sipping! $39.95

Read:

The Cha-Cha Babes of Pelican Way- This book is ” Golden Girls Meets Desperate Housewives” and it’s a delicious new novel! There is murder, attitude, and antics that will entice you and you won’t be able to put this book down. Cecilia is a widow who just settled into a retirement community in Florida. They find their friend (after a call in the middle of the night) naked under her beau, and they devise a plan to help their friend not get in trouble. $19.95

Wine Pairing:

2017 Long Meadow Ranch Rosé of Pinot Noir-This wine from the Anderson Valley, California is brilliant pale pink with aromas of strawberry and peach. It is full bodied but feels light and has nice notes of stone fruit and flowers. Pair this with the Cha-Cha babes because like the book, this is a wine that you won’t want to put down! $23.00

For those of you seeking some delicious summer reads and rosés, here you have them! These wines are available online as well as in many wine shops, where you can easily have them delivered to your home or apartment. Be sure to enjoy International Rosé Day (Aug. 14th) the right way! Please pair responsibly.